"Take a good look at me." Tina gestured at her beautiful self from head to toe. "And take a good look at yourself. What do you see?"
The doctor's lips curled up in a captivating smile as he took this rare opportunity to drink in Tina's gorgeous appearance.
"I see a beautiful and elegant-looking young lady with a great sense of humour and a young man hoping for a chance to dine with her."
Tina scoffed, shaking her head in pity.
"You know what, it's okay to dream big? That will help you work harder in the future to buy yourself a nice pair of suits that would make you more presentable."
"But in the meantime, I'll advise you to look for someone that falls within your strata. Someone who looks as miserable as you do." Tina said softly while her eyes scanned the cafe, ignoring the look of astonishment and humiliation in the doctor's eyes.
"Probably someone like that waitress over there. I'm sure she'll be more than happy to dine with you. As for me, I'm already taken. My rich and influential boyfriend will be joining me anytime soon." She pointed to the empty seat opposite her, sparing the stunned doctor one last ridiculing glance.
"Have a nice life, loser" She hissed, redirecting her attention back to the window
The doctor stood, immobilized by Tina's side for a split second. He was a certified medical surgeon earning a reasonable income. He had just completed a stressful medical procedure and had come out to clear his head. He looked at his simple work attire.
Was it looking that bad to warrant this level of insult?
Shrugging his shoulders, he politely apologize and left to sit on the table behind Tina.
"Fool." Tina hissed, her patience slowly wearing thin.
As she waited, seconds slowly turned into minutes and minutes turned into hours. The steaming coffee on the table turned cold and the freshly baked pie before her lost its scent.
Tina's initial cheerful expression slowly turned sad and then gloomy before finally transforming to pure rage.
She couldn't believe that Blaze didn't dim it fit to call her after watching his mother humiliate and assault her.
Not even an apology text message from him.
"How cruel. I won't take this kind of insult." Tina picked up her phone on the table and dialled his number.
[The number you have dialed is currently switched off. Please try again later.] The automated electronic voice rapped in her ears, making the muscles on the side of her neck stiffen.
"Switched off!" Tina muttered under her breath between clenched jaws.
"Hey, you..." The doctor from earlier - who had been observing her with so much amusement while enjoying his meal with a new friend, - stopped by her table on his way out.
Beside him was the same waitress who had served Tina's table. She had closed her shift for the day and was ready to leave with her new doctor friend.
"Can I help you?" Tina spat out, her narrowed eyes shooting warning flares.
"Not really. But it seems your rich and influential boyfriend stood you up." The doctor taunted, gesturing at the empty seat opposite her with cold pastries and coffee lying untouched.
"And how is that any of your f*cking business?" Tina sneered, her icy voice laced with venom.
"You are absolutely right. It is none of my business. But thanks for your advice earlier. As you can see, this beautiful young lady by my side is nothing short of a rare gem." The doctor said, raising the waitress's right hand to his lips and planting a soft kiss on it.
Tina scoffed. "Birds of a feather. You both complement each other."
"So does loneliness and pride compliment each other." The doctor said in a caustic voice.
Tina's jaws dropped. But the doctor was not done giving her a taste of her own medicine.
"As the saying goes, not everything that glitters is gold. Some are invaluable and others which sometimes, tend to sparkle more are nothing but mere trinkets; cheap, worthless and useless. Have a good evening."
The waitress walking beside the doctor almost felt sorrow for the young lady as she turned back to steal a glance at her face which had turned red with fury.
Bitterly enraged and mortified by the number of people in the cafe staring at her, Tina picked up her handbag and brought out some money for both uneaten food. She dropped the money under one of the plates, stood up and stormed out of the cafe swearing and cursing under her breath.
Over the next two days, Amelia received only the best treatment from both the hospital staff and her family. Her diet was strictly monitored by her husband and very vigilant mother-in-law.
Visiting family and friends were properly scrutinized before they were granted access to her bedside.
The name Tina was backlisted and banned from coming anywhere close to Amelia's hospital room. No one heard from her and no one saw her.
Unbeknownst to everyone, Tina was indirectly checking on Amelia's progress all thanks to her new janitor friend.
By the evening of the third day, Amelia was discharged from the hospital under strict conditions that she was to remain on compulsory bed rest for the next five days. Her oral medication was personally delivered to her by Dr Ashley, who had taken time and certain precautions to avoid exposing Amelia's pregnancy.
"Amy will be coming to stay with me for these five days," Maria announced as Blaze and Amelia both prepared to leave.
"What!" Both of them unanimously replied, the perplexed expression making Maria chuckle.
"Why do you look so surprised? Didn't the doctor say you are to be on compulsory bed rest for the next five days? Do you think I will allow you to go back to the villa to be all by yourself while your husband goes to work? Never? I am going to take care of you for these five days and ensure you do not work even on your laptop."
"But Mom I can manage by myself," Amelia said in slight panic, afraid of Maria discovering the truth.